Ted Potter Jr.'s first PGA Tour victory means a lot more than a big paycheck. The 28-year-old rookie can take a trip to Augusta National off his wish list.
By making a 4-foot birdie putt on the third hole of a playoff Sunday to beat Troy Kelly in the Greenbrier Classic at White Sulphur Springs, W.Va., Potter earned a spot in the Masters, something he listed as a career goal.
Simply winning, though, had been the top priority for a player who first joined the former Nationwide Tour in 2004 and didn't have much success until last year.
"When you're missing cuts every week, you get down on yourself," Potter said. "I mean, it's hard to pick yourself back up. But the plus side for me is I was still young. I just knew I had plenty of time and just be patient and it will come back around again."
The lefthander became the sixth first-time winner on the tour this season. He earned almost $1.1 million and jumped from 173rd to 51st in the FedEx Cup standings.
He also gets a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour. And Potter, Kelly and Marc Leishman -- who won two weeks ago at the Travelers Championship -- can pack their bags for the British Open, which starts July 19 at Royal Lytham and St. Annes.
Triplett wins at Pebble for first Champions title
Kirk Triplett won the First Tee Open at Pebble Beach for his first Champions Tour title, making an early eagle and closing with a 6-under 66 for a two-stroke victory.
Triplett, the two-time PGA Tour winner making his eighth start on the senior tour after turning 50 in March, finished at 10-under 206. He opened with a 70 at Pebble Beach and had a 70 at Del Monte on Saturday to enter the final round four strokes behind leaders Tom Kite and Brad Bryant.
"To win anywhere is special," said Triplett, who joined Olin Browne, Ron Streck, Keith Fergus, Tom Lehman and Gary Hallberg as players who have won on the PGA, Champions and Web.com tours. "But to win at Pebble Beach is extra special. To do it in my first Champions Tour try is great."
Triplett eagled the par-5 second hole, and chipped in on the par-4 16th for the last of his five birdies.
Mark McNulty was second after a 69. Bryant, Jay Haas and Bill Glasson tied for third at 6 under. Haas and Glasson shot 69, and Bryant had a 74.
Siem wins French Open
Marcel Siem had the perfect answer for all of his critics: a second European Tour title.
The 120th-ranked German shot a 4-under 67 to win the French Open in St.-Quentin-en-Yvelines, edging Francesco Molinari of Italy by one stroke.
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